1 Peter 4:17 - For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God

There is a growing consensus that God is currently judging His Church and Christian ministries. Of course, He has always done so. It was happening in the 1st Century when the Apostle Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote the Epistle of 1st Peter. And it seems to be happening at an ever-increasing pace today. He's exposing sin and false teachings. He is shedding light onto lifestyles that are hard to imagine belong to followers of the one who said He "has no place to lay his head" (Matt. 8:20).

It should be producing the fear of God amongst His people. It should be producing repentance in the ones being exposed. I am not sure it is producing either.

I end this podcast by highlighting something else I believe God is judging - the very structure and nature of Church and ministries. I think many who are applauding the exposures and correction God is bringing are not yet discerning that it is celebrity Christianity that God intends to judge and bring down. The platforms, the money, the idolatry, the power/influence - He wants to renovate it all! It hasn't been healthy for the sheep, and it has effectively destroyed so many of the shepherds.

I am sure that many will not get the memo and continue to pursue bigger and bigger platforms, will justify that pursuit in the name of "godly influence". The money will continue to flow - honorarium will get larger and larger, etc. etc. But if what I am saying is true, the cloud will have moved elsewhere. God's anointing will no longer be upon those who are sure it is upon them. God's Word says that "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble". That is where we are sure to find God's power as we insist on humility.

Many Easter messages miss what Christ did between Good Friday and Easter Sunday - NOT THIS MESSAGE. Starting with a line from the Apostle's Creed (2nd Century AD), we first explore arguably the greatest ministry trip Jesus ever took. And then, of course, the victory of it all - Sunday morning.

This message will encourage you and inspire you.

For such a time as this

A challenge to Christians who are SURE we are near the End of the Age.

There were 4 waves of Jewish migrations out of Babylon starting in 538BC. This episode focuses on the first 2 waves of that immigration. What were they called to do? What was the mandate they were given? What were the obstacles they faced?

Their time has MANY parallel to our own. The call to "Leave Babylon" wasn't just for them, it is for us today. It is for the Church.

Continuing on in 1 Peter 3, we conclude with some further thoughts about suffering. God is NOT the author of evil and the causes of suffering are often the antithesis of His will. The second part of this message is all about a Biblical narrative and I would argue an interpretive key that many Christians have rejected (at least since the time of Augustine). Rightly understanding Genesis 6:1-4 from the ancient Jewish perspective and from the that of Jesus and His Apostles is critical to understand the evil we face today. Our Gospel mandate is BROADER than many Christians realize. I try to capture some of that in this message.

Part 2 of Unlocking the Melchizedekian Priesthood - Hebrews 6 and 7

Looking at the background of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Essenes, we explore WHY Jesus warned His followers to BEWARE of the "teaching" of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matt. 16:6). What "teaching" was He warning them about? What did the Essenes believe and what did/do the Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS) reveal about the coming Messiah? We look at a couple of fragments from the DSS, in particular, the Melchizedek Document that reveal what they believed the Messiah was coming to do and WHO the Messiah would be. We can then better understand the purpose of the Book of Hebrews. This is part 1 in a series.

A re-recorded Part 2 where I cast the vision for this Advent Season - to prepare ourselves. To ask the Lord HOW we can be more holy, something we are commanded to be.

This Advent challenge includes a call to fast - from food for some, but from social media.